Sweet Country: Sam Neill and Bryan Brown (2018 Video) User Reviews

Good film

[matto-65470 · 8/10 · 1 January 2020]

Very good insight to early 20th century outback Australia. Well portrayed story. Very realistic depiction of those times in harsh environments.

Good insight into a little know part of Aussie history

[pub-21 · 8/10 · 5 October 2021]

Many would be shocked that this is how it was in outback Australia less than 100 years ago. As an Aussie who has spent time in the outback going back 50 years, I would say this film is pretty accurate for the time it is set.

Movie can be a bit slow and not everybody's cuppa tea but if you have a remote interest in Aussie history, it's a Must Watch!

True story. Of horrific treatment of Indigenous Australians

[lakeshore-98711 · 9/10 · 7 November 2020]

This movie can be compared to The Tracker another movie that hightlights that Indigenous people had no rights and were seen as animals that talk. To this day in Australia Indigenous people do not have full rights as citizens. And as an Aussie We are not afraid of letting our inhuman behavior be shown and I applaud that thoroughly. Sam Neill and Bryan Brown could not give a poor performance if they tried, and this movie deserves its high rating.

Cliche ridden, shallow and poorly thought out

[rakiki-04490 · 1/10 · 22 November 2021]

There are many stories of injustice to aboriginal people in the past. However, this film, although probably well intentioned, fails on some very basic levels. Firstly there is no indication of where and when the film is set. This is important in setting time and place. It also helps to understand the way of life being presented. Secondly, and this one is fundamental to my low opinion of the film and ultimately its failure to convince. The characters are sketchy to a point of being cliches. There is no background to anyone, nor are the people drawn in any sort of depth. So, the endlessly ugly behaviour is just there, without any explanation. The dialogue is downright idiotic for this time of history. The expletive ridden dialogue sounds more like it was written by a fourth year high school male student, than by a mature writer with an understanding of history. Language was different then, as typified by another miss - 'I am in the family way,' says Lizzie. No, no, no. The 'preacher' played by Sam Neill would have been more likely to say 'with child', with its Biblical overtone and so would she. The 'f' word was not heard by either my husband or I until the 1970s, as dialogue in Hollywood became less censored. It certainly wasn't used as shown here.

The only thing missing from this 'Australian western' was Jack Elam in a black hat and riding a black horse, threatening to shoot anyone in his way. There was no relief, no one who seemed to behave in a normal way. Yes, it was isolated, drew all sorts of losers to the area, but the lack of pace, lack of tension, and lack of some relief from the endless portrayal of ugly, dissolute characters is simply too naive to swallow.